Three for three: Chivas at Dallas

The final game of the season is here, and Chivas USA is ready to close 2012 facing FC Dallas this Sunday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. PT. CDChivasUSA.com breaks down the quick facts you need to know ahead of the season finale match.

1. Record against Dallas

This season, Chivas USA and FC Dallas have faced each other twice, both games ending in draws. The first match was on June 23, a scoreless draw at FC Dallas Stadium. Just two weeks ago, Chivas hosted Dallas in The Home Depot Center. Dallas’ Blas Perez put the Texan team in the lead, but in the 69th minute, Jorge Villafaña put out a 600+ goalless streak, giving Chivas its first point in seven games.

Overall, the Red-and-White has a record of 2-5-3 (W-L-T) in Dallas and has not been able to earn a win since March 29, 2009 when the Goats defeated the Texas team 2-0.

2. Injury/ disciplinary report

Defender John Valencia and goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, two key players in the Red-and-White squad, will not be available for this match. Valencia will be out due to yellow card accumulation and Kennedy will likely not play due to a knee injury.

However, midfielder Miller Bolaños will more likely make his return after missing Chivas’ last match due to suspension. Bolaños’ last match was against Dallas, where the Ecuadorian was subbed out of the match after an ankle injury.

“We’re playing for our honor,” Bolaños said about Sunday’s match at Dallas. “Obviously, they’re [Dallas] going to want to win, but we have to focus on our objective, do the right things and come out with three points and end the season on a good note.”

3. Final game of the season

Thirty-three games later, we’ve arrived to the final game of the season. Chivas USA will look to end the season on a positive note; the team’s current record stands as 7-18-8 with 29 points and ninth place in the Western Conference standings.

“We want to finish strong; we know we haven’t had a great run of results, but as long as we can go out with a win, it’ll be a bonus for us,” said midfielder Ryan Smith. “The season hasn’t been great, but we’re definitely going to go for a win, we don’t want to go over there and tie or lose.”